Leaf movement imaging

Kujata

The original, low-cost system for timelapse analysis of plant growth uses 14 security
video cameras controlled by a single PC, known as the "Kujata". The Kujata
system was designed for the Kay lab at the University of Virgina, in 1994, and is available
custom-built from Mark Hyett (mhyett@std.saic.com).
It is efficient but no longer current technology, in part because it is based on the VESA
video standard. The leaf movement and hypocotyl videos were taken
with this system.

In 1999-2000, Andrew Millar and Kieron Edwards developed a new version known as
KujaMorph, which uses almost entirely standard components under the control of MetaMorph
software.

Video technology is moving quickly and to much lower
costs, so there should (by 2003) be a better solution for someone who wants to
put one together, perhaps based on USB web cameras ?

KujaMorph

Video switchers: Two Videoswitch VSX416, for 31 cameras. Any switcher with an alarm port
will do, otherwise software drivers are required to change the channel.
Many video switches have serial ports, which MetaMorph can also control with
minimal programming.

Notes and gripes

Cameras should be gen-locked - we have sporadic
flagging on the images and other synch problems, which sometimes lead
the system to freeze if MetaMorph can't grab a frame. An error message over-ride in
MetaMorph would solve the problem, all suggestions gratefully received.